26 October 2022
Nitrates Action Plan information for all farms
Nitrates regulations is a basic set of measures to protect waters, including drinking water sources, against pollution caused by nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural sources. The primary emphasis is on the management of livestock manures and other fertiliser. See tables below for information
New prohibited periods for Soiled Water Spreading
| Effective from | Application Prohibited from |
|---|
| 11th March 2022 |
21st – 31st December |
| 1st January 2023 |
10th – 31st December |
| 1st January 2024 - except winter milk producers |
1st – 31st December |
| 1st January 2025 - for winter milk producers |
1st – 31st December |
Changes to prohibited period for Slurry Spreading
| Effective from | Application Prohibited from |
|---|
| 11th March 2022 |
8th October |
| 1st January 2023 onwards |
1st October |
Annual dairy cow nutrient excretion rates from 1st January 2023
| 3-year rolling average herd milk yield (kg) | N Excretion Rate - kg/cow | P Excretion Rate - kg/cow |
|---|
| <4,500 kg |
80 |
12 |
|---|
| 4,501-6,500 kg |
92 |
13.6 |
|---|
| >6,501 kg |
106 |
15.8 |
|---|
Annual maximum fertilisation rates of nitrogen on grassland
Grassland stocking rate -
kg N/ha/year | Maximum Chemical Nitrogen
kg/ha |
|---|
| ≤130 |
114 |
|---|
| 131-170 |
185 |
|---|
| 171-210 |
254 |
|---|
| 211-250 |
225 |
|---|
| >250 |
225 |
|---|
Soil Sampling Requirement
| Effective from | Soil Sampling Mandatory For |
|---|
| 11th March 2022 |
Those stocked at >170 kg N/ha |
| 1st January 2023 |
Those stocked at >130 kg N/ha |
| 1st January 2023 |
All arable land |
Phased introduction of Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) Requirement
| Effective from | LESS Mandatory for those stocked at |
|---|
| January 2023 |
> 150 kg N/ha |
| January 2024 |
>130 kg N/ha |
| January 2025 |
>100 kg N/ha |
Storage periods for cattle manure and prohibited periods for spreading fertilisers, organic manure and soiled water
| Zone | Storage Period | Prohibited Application Periods |
|---|
| |
|
Chemical Fertilisers - Nitrogen and Phosphorous |
Organic Fertilisers* - other than FYM |
Farmyard Manure (FYM) |
|---|
| A |
16 weeks |
15th Sept–26th Jan |
1 st Oct–12th Jan |
1 st Nov–12th Jan |
|---|
| B |
18 weeks |
15th Sept–29th Jan |
1 st Oct–15th Jan |
1 st Nov–15th Jan |
|---|
| C - Donegal, Leitrim |
20 weeks |
15th Sept–14th Feb |
1 st Oct–31st Jan |
1 st Nov–31st Jan |
|---|
| C - Cavan, Monaghan |
22 weeks |
15th Sept–14th Feb |
1 st Oct–31st Jan |
1 st Nov–31st Jan |
|---|
Note* The prohibited period for application of organic fertilisers starts on the 8th of October for each Zone in 2022 and the 1st of October for each zone from 2023 onwards.
More information on Nitrates is available here on the Teagasc website
